What: Demonstration Vigil & News Conference

Date: Sunday, November 23, 2003

Time: Event starts at 1:00 p.m.; News Conference at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
Lackland's Eastern Gate on S.W. Military Drive
North sidewalk of S.W. Military Drive between Hall and Kirknewton
Map: http://www.iconmedia.org/mdp/iaafa/LacklandMap.html

Why: Show solidarity with School of the Americas Rally at Fort Benning
Raise awareness about Lackland AFB's Inter-American Air Forces Academy
Question U.S. military support for Colombia

Who: Called by Peace Action Texas and the Military Documentation Project
Endorsed by San Antonio peaceCENTER, Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

Pre-event:
Photo and interview opportunity at NOON at San Antonio peaceCENTER People meeting at 1443 S. Saint Mary's St. to car caravan to Lackland AFB
Map: http://www.iconmedia.org/mdp/iaafa/peaceCENTERmap.html

Contact: Stefan Wray, Military Documentation Project and Iconmedia
512-441-9454, 512-468-7607, stefwray@io.com

Texas Solidarity Demonstration with The School of the Americas Rally

Texans will gather at Lackland AFB, Sunday, Nov. 23, to support thousands at Fort Benning, Georgia, this weekend demanding the closure of the notorious School of the Americas (renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for SecurityCooperation) See www.soaw.org

Lackland AFB was chosen because it is the headquarters for the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA), the Air Force's version of the School of the Americas.

Lackland AFB Public Affairs claims the IAAFA is just a school for jet mechanics, but according to the State Department, last year Colombian military received training in Air Intelligence, Ground Defense Skills, Search and Rescue, Special Communications, and Special Reaction Team. In 2002 Colombians enrolled in more training courses at the IAAFA than the SOA.

Available data shows in 1998 the IAAFA topped the list for training military from the Western Hemisphere. Lackland AFB Public Affairs has delayed in providing the numbers of Latin American students trained since 1999. Rep. Rodriguez and Rep. Doggett's offices have been asked to help. The request is now being handled by the DOD's Inspector General.

In the 1980s, the IAAFA trained Salvadoran Air Force pilots and mechanics, much like the SOA trained the Army. The Salvadoran Air Force conducted numerous aerial bombing campaigns that conservatively are estimated to have killed 2,000 civilians.

To better understand the IAAFA training of the Salvadoran Air Force, Iconmedia has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Lackland's FOIA office requesting records that indicate the names and nationalities of students from Latin American and Caribbean countries who attended training courses at the IAAFA from 1979 to 1989.